Learn how to play Perfect Pairs Blackjack, an online 21 game exclusive to RealTime Gaming casinos.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack is one of those games you can expect to find at a wide range of online casinos. This particular write-up refers to the one found at online casinos powered by RealTime Gaming (RTG) software. Cryptologic and Amaya have similar games on their menus, as does Playtech. Between the four of these, Playtech’s Perfect Blackjack gets my vote, having the best return between them. But if you happen to find yourself at an RTG online casino, this page will detail the rules you can expect to play by, dishing up an RTP of 99.46% (house edge 0.54%).
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If you haven’t already assumed the namesake derivative, it comes from the simple fact that the Perfect Pairs side bet is available. Perfect Pairs is an optional wager that can net a payout of up to 25 to 1, but an unfavorable edge should dissuade you from making it. In fact, the unfavorably high edge in this game’s rules should dissuade you from playing it, too. But to each their own…
How to Play Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Let me reiterate, the following rules apply only to the version of Perfect Pairs Blackjack found at RTG powered online casinos. If you find a game by this same name anywhere else, the house rules could be different, thereby altering the RTP, for better or worse.
Before I continue, I should point out one unique feature of RTG software. Its blackjack games are partly customizable – not for players, but for the online casinos that deploy them. This means the casinos can alter the rules to deliver a higher or lower house edge.
That being said, I have been to a great deal of RTG casinos, and I’ve only found this game provided in a single format, applying the following rules:
Specific Rules of Play
- Decks: 6
- Soft 17: Dealer Hits
- Doubling: Yes, on any 2 cards
- Splitting: Yes, up to 2x
- Double after Split: Yes
- Resplit Aces: No
- Draw to Split Aces: No
- Surrender: Yes
- Dealer Checks for Blackjack: No
- 7 Card Charlie: Instant winner, pays 1 to 1
- Blackjack Pays: 3 to 2
Note that the game follows American Blackjack rules, wherein the dealer will not check for blackjack, but if he does have blackjack, the player will not lose anything over the original bet. Any bets on doubles and/or splits are a Push.
Rule Alterations & RTP
The only rules you might find altered are the option to Surrender and the number of decks in use. Decks can feasibly range from 2 to 8, although 6 seems to be the magic number for online casinos hosting this game. However, I have provided two strategy charts below – one for 2-deck games, and another for 4+ deck games – just in case you come across them.
For reference, the number of decks in use will effect the RTP thusly:
- 2 Decks w/ Surrender = 0.34% RTP
- 2 Decks w/o Surrender = 0.40% RTP
- 4 Decks w/ Surrender = 0.49% RTP
- 4 Decks w/o Surrender = 0.58% RTP
- 6 Decks w/ Surrender = 0.54% RTP (most common)
- 6 Decks w/o Surrender = 0.63% RTP
Perfect Pairs Side Bet
This side bet is a simple one. It is an optional wager that the player’s first two cards will be a pair. If the pair is the same color, or better yet, the same suit, the payout is higher. RTG applies the following Perfect Pairs pay table, resulting in a lofty house edge of 6.11% with 6 decks.
| Player’s First 2 Cards are… | Pays |
| Perfect Pair (same suits) | 25 to 1 |
| Colored Pair (same color) | 12 to 1 |
| Mixed Pair (red and black) | 6 to 1 |
| House Edge = 6.11% |
Strategy for Perfect Pairs Blackjack
As promised, I’m providing two different strategy charts. Each comes in three sections, based on the player’s hand type – hard hand, soft hand, or paired hand. The first set of charts apply to RTG’s Perfect Pairs Blackjack with 4, 6 or 8 decks in play. The second set of charts is for a 2-deck game, should you happen to find one. Follow the corresponding charts precisely to learn how to play Perfect Pairs Blackjack with the highest possible rate of return.
How to Decide a Hard Hand w/ 4-8 Decks
| Hard Total | Correct Action by Situation |
| 8 & Under | Hit |
| 9 | Double against Dealer’s 3-6; otherwise Hit |
| 10 | Double against Dealer’s 2-9; otherwise Hit |
| 11 | Double |
| 12 | Stand against Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Hit |
| 13-14 | Stand against Dealer’s 2-6; otherwise Hit |
| 15 | Stand against Dealer’s 2-6; Surrender on 10-A; otherwise Hit |
| 16 | Stand against Dealer’s 2-6; Surrender on 9-A; otherwise Hit |
| 17-21 | Surrender against A; otherwise Stand |
How to Decide a Soft Hand w/ 4-8 Decks
| Soft Total | Correct Action by Situation |
| 13-14 | Double against Dealer’s 5-6; otherwise Hit |
| 15-16 | Double against Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Hit |
| 17 | Double against Dealer’s 3-6; otherwise Hit |
| 18 | Double against Dealer’s 2-6; Hit against 9-A; otherwise Stand |
| 19 | Double againstDealer’s 6; otherwise Stand |
| 20-21 | Stand |
Conditions for Splitting Pairs w/ 4-8 Decks
Splitting is permitted twice, up to three hands. If you cannot split again, refer to the above charts for further instruction.
| Pair | Correct Action by Situation |
| Ace-Ace | Split |
| 2-2 | Split on dealer’s 2-7; otherwise Hit |
| 3-3 | Split on dealer’s 2-7; otherwise Hit |
| 4-4 | Double on dealer’s 5-6; otherwise Hit |
| 5-5 | Double on dealer’s 2-9; otherwise Hit |
| 6-6 | Split on dealer’s 2-6; otherwise Hit |
| 7-7 | Split on dealer’s 2-7; otherwise Hit |
| 8-8 | Surrender against dealer’s A; otherwise Split |
| 9-9 | Split on dealer’s 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand |
| 10-10 | Stand |
How to Decide a Hard Hand w/ 2 Decks
| Hard Total | Correct Action by Situation |
| 8 & Under | Hit |
| 9 | Double against Dealer’s 2-6; otherwise Hit |
| 10 | Double against Dealer’s 2-9; otherwise Hit |
| 11 | Double |
| 12 | Stand against Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Hit |
| 13-14 | Stand against Dealer’s 2-6; otherwise Hit |
| 15-16 | Stand against Dealer’s 2-6; Surrender 10-A; otherwise Hit |
| 17-21 | Surrender against A; otherwise Stand |
How to Decide a Soft Hand w/ 2 Decks
| Soft Total | Correct Action by Situation |
| 13 | Double against Dealer’s 5-6; otherwise Hit |
| 14-16 | Double against Dealer’s 4-6; otherwise Hit |
| 17 | Double against Dealer’s 3-6; otherwise Hit |
| 18 | Double against Dealer’s 2-6; Hit against 9-A; otherwise Stand |
| 19 | Double againstDealer’s 6; otherwise Stand |
| 20-21 | Stand |
Conditions for Splitting Pairs w/ 2 Decks
Splitting is permitted twice, up to three hands. If you cannot split again, refer to the above charts for further instruction.
| Pair | Correct Action by Situation |
| Ace-Ace | Split |
| 2-2 | Split on dealer’s 2-7; otherwise Hit |
| 3-3 | Split on dealer’s 2-7; otherwise Hit |
| 4-4 | Double on dealer’s 5-6; otherwise Hit |
| 5-5 | Double on dealer’s 2-9; otherwise Hit |
| 6-6 | Split on dealer’s 2-7; otherwise Hit |
| 7-7 | Split on dealer’s 2-8; otherwise Hit |
| 8-8 | Surrender against dealer’s A; otherwise Split |
| 9-9 | Split on dealer’s 2-6 or 8-9; otherwise Stand |
| 10-10 | Stand |